Moscow denies targeting Poland after drones enter NATO airspace. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that no targets on Polish territory were intended, responding to reports of 19 Russian drones violating Poland’s airspace on 10 September for approximately six hours.
Poland deployed F-16 and F-35 jets, shooting down 4 out of 19 Russian drones, while others fell on Polish soil, triggering NATO’s Article 4 consultations, which allow member states to hold urgent talks when a country’s territorial integrity is threatened.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has described the incident as an “unprecedented moment” for both the country and the Alliance, marking the first massive attack on NATO territory.
Massive strike on Ukraine
The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed it launched a massive strike on Ukraine "with high-precision long-range weapons from land, sea, and air, as well as with strike drones."
They are targeting defense-industrial enterprises in Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr oblasts, as well as in Vinnytsia and Lviv.
"These facilities were producing and repairing armored and aviation equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, engines, electronic components, and long-range drones," said the Russian Defense Ministry.
It added that in Lviv, workshops at the Lviv Armored Plant and Lviv Aircraft Plant were hit, "where armored vehicles were repaired and modernized and long-range UAVs and combat aircraft were maintained.”
Russia launched 415 drones of various types and over 40 cruise and ballistic missiles against Ukraine. One person was killed and over 30 were injured. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed more than 380 drones across the country.
Earlier, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented the attack on Poland by saying that “We do not wish to in any way comment on this. It is outside our competence,” referring to the Ministry of Defense.
He added that the EU and NATO “accuse Russia of provocations daily,” and that Western institutions “lack evidence to support their accusations.”
In 2025, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Head Sergey Naryshkin accused NATO of escalating military activity near Russia’s borders. He warned that Poland and the Baltic states would be the first to suffer in the event of a war between Moscow and the Alliance.
Belarus claims drones merely “lost their way”
Meanwhile, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense claimed the Russian drones attacking Poland had “lost their way.”
Belarus reportedly alerted Poland about drone movements in its airspace. First Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muraveiko told The Moscow Times that some of the “lost” drones were destroyed by Belarusian air defenses over its territory.
Muraveiko explained that Belarusian forces “exchanged information on aerial and radar activity” with Poland and Lithuania during the night of 10 September, allowing Polish forces to respond quickly by scrambling jets.
He added that drones from both Russia and Ukraine had been monitored as some lost course due to electronic warfare measures.
Belarus has become effectively a Russian satellite in recent years, providing its territory for military exercises, including the large-scale “Zapad-2025” drills, rehearsing joint operations against NATO and Ukraine. President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly expressed support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and closely coordinates with the Kremlin militarily.
Russia, Belarus to rehearse attack on Poland and nuclear strike during Zapad-2025 drills
Ukraine’s response
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine’s and its partners' air defense systems can and must operate together to intercept Russian missiles and drones.
Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine is ready to provide expertise, experience, technology, and other forms of assistance to ensure reliable security and an effective response to Russian threats.
“Together, we will not allow Russian missiles and drones to fly further into Europe,” he added, calling for rapid and decisive action to send Moscow a clear signal of unity and strength.
